Golf ball mixing and dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved apparatus and system for mixing castable polyurethanes and polyureas and for prolonging the dispensing time for dispensing them into a golf ball mold for application to a golf ball sub-assembly. A nozzle framework includes support housing heaters and heater adaptors for each dispensing port to delay the onset of drool and improve cut off in the dispensing tubes. The combination of fluorinated dispensing ports, the heating of the polyureas or polyurethanes, and inclusion of a capillary orifice in each dispensing port significantly prolongs the time before the advent of drool is detected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part to U.S. application Ser. No.10/862,834, which was filed Jun. 7, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,937,and is incorporated herein in its entirety by express reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for mixing of castablepolyurethanes and polyureas, and, more particularly, to an improvedapparatus for temperature control and prolonged dispensing of themixture with improved cutoff of material flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In castable flow molding processes employing a plurality of castablepolyurethane components, the homogeneity and the quality of the moldedmaterial is mainly determined by the mixing operation which immediatelyprecedes the molding.

For example, after an amount of time in which the reactants come intocontact, a polymerization reaction process begins producing the moldablematerial. Many times, striae form within the moldable material that isvisible. The striae are a result of poor mixing which inhibits thequality of the material. Therefore, it is desirable to produce a mixturewhich is as homogeneous as possible, in the shortest possible time, inorder to bring about a uniform reaction to avoid the formation ofstriae. However, there is an additional difficulty presented in mixingreactive components in the case of polyurethane, in that the twocomponents, i.e., polyol and the isocyanate, have substantiallydifferent viscosities.

The use of known mixing processes does not lead to the desired resultfor producing a high quality polyurethane material. For example, withsome processes that employ static mixers that make use of various knownmixers for mixing liquids in the laminar flow regime, it is found that arelatively long mixing length is needed to produce sufficient mixing.Often, the mixture requires a relatively long time to pass through thislong mixing length, meanwhile, the polymerization process has alreadybegun. Due to the quick setting characteristics of polyurethane, thematerial will gel or “set up” within the mixer instead of beingdischarged into the usual succession of molds. The molds are generallymoved past the discharge of the mixer in time relation to the discharge.If, for any reason, a slight delay or decrease in the flow rate of themixture through the mixer occurs, the mixture gels in portions of themixer and restricts flow, thus further slowing the discharge andresulting in the entire mixer being clogged with hard settingcomponents. An improvement in slowing down the gel time is necessary toallow the mixture to progress through the system.

Generally, static mixers are in the form of a tubular chamber, with arigid static mixing device disposed therein. Because of the very natureof the static mixer, the mixer cannot be cleaned readily once anyappreciable quantity of material has gelled in the various mixingelements which form the static mixing device. Attempts have been made toclean the static mixer, but due to the cementing and interlockingeffects of the material this approach has proven impractical. Therefore,available static mixers perform poorly in practice because the mixer mayonly be used, in some instances, for 15 to 30 minutes before“plugging-up”.

In place of the static mixer, a dynamic mixer may be employed with theaim of reducing the mixing time. While the results generally improve thequality of mixing, the temperature of the reaction mixture may beincreased by frictional and shear heating, and local fractions of themixture which can be generated in an advanced state of polymerizationmust be eliminated. Consequently, when dynamic mixers are used,significant improvements must be made towards controlling the exothermictemperatures. Additionally, caution must be taken to insure that thedynamic mixer does not introduce pockets of gas in the form of airbubbles into the moldable material, which may lead to poor quality.Moreover, dynamic mixers may require frequent flushing with solventsresulting in a sludge material which has to be disposed of.

In dispensing of a polyurea material a particular problem has been seenin maintaining or prolonging the dispensing time. A major problem existsin the accumulation of cured material in the dispensing tubes whereinthe dispensing time is greatly reduced.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of theproblems as set forth above, particularly towards prolonging thedispensing time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for mixing anddispensing of urethane and urea components for application upon a golfball sub-assembly. The apparatus comprises a rear mixing block forreceiving at least two components, a system for pumping the urethanecomponents through the mixing block, a mixer body having a middleportion that defines a bore extending axially along its longitudinalaxis with a plastic disposable dynamic mixer element disposed in thebore for mixing the components, a temperature control chamberencompassing the mixer body for controlling heat generated by theexothermic reaction that is created when the urethane components combineand mix, and a nozzle assembly for dispensing the mixed urethane andurea components into a mold cavity containing the golf ballsub-assembly.

Employed in the present invention is a dynamic mixer element having astructure of multiple segments at a 90° relationship to each to create atortuous and effective mixing path.

Another embodiment of the apparatus has for a temperature controlchamber, a mixing housing encompassed by a cooling jacket. The mixinghousing has a middle portion defining a bore extending axially thereinwith means disposed in the bore for mixing the components. The mixinghousing has a helical groove extending generally about its outerperimeter and along the longitudinal length of the housing, and having awater inlet and a water outlet for permitting the cooling water tocirculate about the housing. The cooling jacket surrounds the mixinghousing in a relatively tight sealing relationship to the housing, andprovides a means for controlling the heat generated by the exothermicreaction of the urethane components combining and mixing.

The present invention provides for a process to mix urethane reactivecomponents into homogenous material. The process comprises pumping bulkmaterials through the apparatus wherein they are mixed by a plasticdisposable mixer element, while the temperature of the mixing components(which emit a relatively large amount of heat due to their exothermicreaction), is controlled. The mixed urethane composition is dispensedinto a golf ball mold cavity for forming around a golf ballsub-assembly.

The apparatus is completed by a nozzle assembly which utilizes pneumaticpressure to dispense via dispensing ports the mixed urethane componentsinto mold cavities containing golf ball sub-assemblies. The nozzleassembly employs cartridge heaters and heating adaptors to heat thecomponents such that drool is delayed or eliminated in the dispensingports such that the dispensing time can be increased up to 5 hours.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an expanded view of the apparatus;

FIG. 1 a is cutout segmented view of the mixer element;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the completed apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a perspective view of the temperature control chamber of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a temperature controlchamber having a cooled mixer comprising a helical cooling channel;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the cooled mixer of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus with an improved nozzleassembly;

FIG. 7 is an expanded view of the nozzle assembly;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the completed nozzle assembly;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the nozzle assembly showingthe placement of cartridge heaters;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a dispensing port with a heatingadaptor;

FIG. 11 is a capillary orifice;

FIG. 12 is a cross section of a capillary orifice connected to adispensing port;

FIG. 13 is an expanded view of a fluorinated thermoplastic dispensingtube and a split adaptor; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 13 showing a capillaryorifice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an apparatus 10 of a hybrid urethane mixingsystem for producing a homogenous material from a mixture of a pluralityof reactive components is shown. The apparatus 10 is comprised of fourmain portions: a mixing portion comprising of a mixer housing 11, havinga rear mixing block 11 a, and a front mixing block 11 b, and a mixerbody 12; a temperature control chamber 13 encompassing the mixer body12; and, a nozzle assembly 14. The apparatus 10 utilizes a disposableplastic mixer element 16 (rotor). The apparatus 10 is designed to yielda more consistent product and enhanced temperature control for aurethane molding process for golf balls.

Advantageously, the present invention is directed to producing a flowmoldable material from at least two castable urethane materials, such asurethanes, polyureas, and blends thereof. The materials need to bemixed, temperature controlled, and dispensed. In an embodiment of theinvention, pumps (not shown) are provided to pump materials inpre-measured amounts into the apparatus through openings 17 a and 17 b,in the rear mixing block 11 a wherein they have an initial mixing. Thematerials are then pumped through to the mixer body 12 which containsthe disposable plastic mixer element (rotor) 16 that is rotated byattachment to a slotted drive shaft 18. It is in the mixer body 12 wherethe primary mixing takes place.

The front mixing block 11 b has an internal groove 15 having fourapertures 15 a for quick disconnect to the mixer body 12. At the rearend of the mixer body 12 are four raised ridges 19 which when insertedinto the internal groove 15 through the apertures 15 a the connection iscompleted by merely rotating the mixer body 12, within the internalgroove 15. The front mixing block 11 b also has four corner sections 20that inherently define a large opening for receiving the temperaturecontrol chamber 13 which has four raised lip sections 25 disposed aboutits outer perimeter for easy insertion into four internal slots 23defined in the four corner sections 20 for a quick disconnect fittingtherein. A drive shaft 18 has a leading end slotted to allow arelatively easy friction fit coupling to the disposable mixer element16, which is dimensioned to fit within the slot of the drive shaft 18without the use of tools. The dynamic mixer element 16 includes left andright hand helical elements that aggressively mix the material as thematerial is pumped through the mixer body 12. The mixer body 12 issurrounded by an outer sleeve which forms the temperature controlchamber 13. Controlling the temperature is extremely necessary in orderto control the heat generated by the exothermic reaction from theurethane components combining and mixing. For a cooling medium, water isintroduced to the temperature control chamber 13 by a water inlet 28 innear proximity to the front mixing block 11 b and is removed via a wateroutlet 29 near the other end of the temperature control chamber 13. Thewater temperature control chamber 13 provides uniform processtemperatures in the mixer body 12 which minimize “plating out” (build-upof cured material) on the dynamic mixer element 16. With reducedplate-out, the rotor cycle time is increased and apparatus downtime isreduced.

A bracket assembly 26 consisting of an upper section 26 a and a lowersection 26 b is clamped about the temperature control chamber 13 at theend nearer to a nozzle assembly 14, and is coupled together by simplehex screws. This bracket assembly 26 forms a base that is connected toone end of an extended arm portion 31 of the nozzle assembly 14. Afterthe material passes through the mixer body 12, it is then forced out ofthe nozzle assembly 14 through at least one dispensing port. For claritytwo dispensing ports 21 a and 21 b are shown and described, whereinmaterial is dispensed into a ball mold cavity to be applied about a golfball sub-assembly (not shown). The dispensing ports 21 a and 21 b areseated in a fixture 32 which is connected to the other end of theextended arm portion 31. The ports 21 a and 21 b are caused to movevertically into and out of the ball mold cavities by pneumatic pressure.This pressure propels a piston rod 33, housed within a tube 34, to movedown into the golf ball mold cavity and gradually be raised out of thecavity as the castable polyurethane or urea material is deposited in themold cavity. The temperature control chamber 13 has at one end, near tothe nozzle assembly 14, an insulating member 36 which is sandwichedbetween the temperature control chamber 13 and a relatively circlemounting member 37. The mounting member 37 has a slotted recess 38defined therein, and the insulating member 36 and mounting member 37 arecoupled to the chamber 13 by hex screws 39. The nozzle assembly 14includes a dispensing tube housing 35 that holds the plastic tubingmaking up the dispensing tubes 21 a and 21 b. This is done by means of asimple hex screw 40. The dispensing tube housing 35 includes a pair ofears 41 which are inserted into the slotted recess 38 of the mountingmember 37 by a simple quick disconnect motion by the operator whichrequires only a manual rotation of the ears 41 within the slotted recess38.

The design of the mixing system minimizes exposure to urethane and urearaw materials by utilizing tool-free, quick-change components. Theturn-to-lock connections and the slotted rotor drive shaft 18 are designfeatures that make the operator's mixer maintenance tasks quicker andmore efficient. The development of the quick-change mixer assemblyprovides for a reduction in the downtime necessary to service theapparatus 10 which requires frequent changing of the disposable mixerelement 16 and even more frequent changing of the plastic tubing makingup the dispensing ports 21 a and 21 b of the nozzle assembly 14. Thereduction in the mixer block mass allows for enhanced water temperaturecontrol along the entire length of the mixer rotor 16 resulting inbetter mixer performance and increased mixer life. Utilizing adisposable dynamic mixer element 16 eliminates the need for relativelyexpensive machined mixing rotors, which can require significant cleaningand maintenance. When cleaning non-disposable rotors, workers are oftenexposed to cleaning chemicals and sensitive urethane materials. Thepresent invention, in using the disposable dynamic mixer element 16,requires only that the mixer element 16 be periodically removed anddiscarded, and this generally eliminates any undesirable chemicalexposure to workers. Frequent cleaning and repeated use of a permanentmixing rotor can often change the rotor mixing characteristics resultingin process variations due to rotor wear. The disposable dynamic mixerelement 16 may be removed and replaced without the use of tools. Thistool-free feature is very critical to the system, for in addition to thegreat reduction in downtime, it also eliminates the contamination oftools when such tools are required to service the mixer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, the disposable plastic mixer element 16generally is longer, smaller in diameter, and is less massive thannon-disposable rotors. These features help to achieve improvedtemperature control. The mixer element 16 is disposed within a bore 22that extends axially along the middle portion of the mixer body 12. Themixer element 16 is constructed of a predetermined number of segmentswhich have right and left-hand helical twists, and extend axially alongthe bore 22. The segments are alternated and oriented such that onesegment lies at 90° with respect to an adjacent segment. For example,one segment has an opposite helical twist and is shifted by a (radial)angle of 90° with respect to a preceding segment. Moreover, the mixerbody 12 and the mixing segments define a tortuous mixing path whichinsure that the components are aggressively mixed The number of mixingsegments comprising the dynamic mixer element 16 is dependent on thelength of the bore 22. The extra length of the mixer element 16 providesincreased surface area for better mixing, but also provides for greatersurface contact for the cooling water flow. The relatively smalldiameter of the mixer element 16 and mixer body 12 improve forwardmaterial flow through the mixer (first in/first out). The temperaturecontrol of the mixing components results in an improved cure rate (gel)control, and produces improved material processing properties such assmooth flow and excellent shot cut-off. The gel rate time of thematerial flowing through the present invention is controlled such thatthe gel time will be at least 60 seconds, and preferably at least 70seconds. The temperature of the urethane material is maintained at lessthan 180° F., preferably at less than 150° F. The dynamic mixer element16 is available from ConProTec, Inc. of Salem, N.H. under the trade name“STRATOMIX”®.

The apparatus 10 is completed by a three hole packing gland 42 insertedinto the back of the rear mixing block 11 a and a lubricating chamber 43and bearings 44 and 45 disposed within a bearing housing 46 support ofthe drive shaft 18. The bearing hosing having a two-hole packing gland47 insulating it from the lubricating chamber 43. The apparatus 10 ismade of parts that are generally stainless steel but it is appreciatedthat many various metals may be employed without affecting thestructural integrity of the apparatus.

FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose another embodiment of a temperature controlchamber. This embodiment includes a cooled mixer chamber 50 comprising amixing housing 51 encased in a cooling jacket 52. A helical coolingchannel 53 is spirally disposed about the mixing housing 51, with themixing housing 51 having a helical groove contour that extends aroundthe length of its outer perimeter and provides a track for placement ofthe helical cooling channel 53. The cooling jacket 52 has O-ring seals56 disposed at each end to create a water tight seal between the jacket52 and mixing housing 51. The helical cooling channel 53 has an inletopening 54 for introducing cooling water and an outlet opening 55 forremoval of the heated water after it has passed through the coolingchannel 53. This provides positive and very efficient coolant flow overthe length of the mixing housing 51. This embodiment is especiallybeneficial for use with castable polyurethanes and urea components whichare introduced into the mixing housing through receiving ports 57 a and57 b.

FIGS. 6-14 depict an embodiment wherein the dispensing tube housing 35,the nozzle assembly 14, and primarily the fixture 32 of the nozzleassembly 14 are substituted with a dispensing housing 135 that couples anozzle framework 114 to the temperature control chamber 13. The nozzleframework includes a heated support housing 132 that houses at least onedispensing port and may house multiple dispensing ports, while only apair 121 a, 121 b are shown herein, and a capillary orifice 148 affixedto a distal end of each dispensing port 121 a, 121 b. The tubing formingthe dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b are substantially disposed withinchannels 138 a and 138 b defined in the metal body 136 of the heatedsupport housing 132 (FIGS. 7 and 9). The dispensing housing 135 thatconnects the nozzle framework 114 to the temperature control chamber 13includes a pair of ears 141 at the entrance to the manifold 139. Theseears 141 are similar to ears 41 described above, which are inserted intothe slotted recess 38 of mounting member 37 by a simple quick disconnectmotion by the operator which requires only a manual rotation of the ears41 within the slotted recess 38. The quick disconnect is essentialtowards achieving maximum production time efficiency.

As best shown in FIG. 7, the support housing 132 comprises a body 136, apair of side sections 133 a and 133 b, a pair of channels 138 a and 138b which are defined by the body 136 and the side sections 133 a, 133 b,and wherein the dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b are disposed. Thesupport housing 132 has a top portion 134 that is connected to the base136. The top portion has means for connecting to the extended arm potion31 (FIG. 6). The support housing 132 may have an optional pair ofsupport housing heaters 142 a and 142 b disposed therein which aretypically about 250W, 240V and about 0.25 inch in diameter (as best seenin FIG. 9). Although there is heating of the material in the temperaturecontrol chamber 13, there is a significant advantage achieved by heatingthe dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b directly. The main reason for thisis that the material resides in the temperature control chamber 13 forabout 18 to 22 seconds, but it only resides in the heated supporthousing 132 for about 1 second. Therefore the bulk of the material isleft unaffected and only that material actually being dispensed need beheated.

Prolonging the dispensing time for castable ball molding processes,especially materials such as light stable polyurea, is a productionnecessity. These dispensing times are inherently shortened by the onsetof what is termed “drooling” after a certain amount of production time.Light stable ureas are especially prone to drooling. Drooling is a termused to describe a reaction which causes an inevitable build-up ofmaterial on the lid of the dispensing tube. As the material continues tobuild-up, it causes the diameter to inherently reduce in size. When thematerial is dispensed, it thus is forced through a smaller opening, andas it exits the dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b, there is a rapiddecrease in pressure that results in an expansion of the material at theorifice. This is commonly referred to as die swell, which is defined asa percentage of the extrudate diameter. The casting material eventuallyadheres to the outer wall of the dispensing ports 121 a and 121 bresulting in a drool initiation site. When the pressure is removed atthe decompression stage of the process, some of the material is suckedback into the dispensing ports, however, the drool initiation siteremains. Over time, more of the material accumulates in this arearesulting in a long, thick agglomeration. During the molding process thedrool can be deposited on the parting line of the mold causing excessiveclean-up issues, as well as potentially interfering with the moldclosing. Another feature that the capillary provides is a clean cutoffof material when applied to a golf ball mold.

When polyethylene was used as the dispensing tubing material, itgenerally took a period of about 5 minutes before the mixed castablematerial started to drool out of the tubing ports. It is a key inventiveconcept that if heat of sufficient temperature is applied, then this 5minute period can be extended by a significant amount of time. However,because of the high temperatures necessary to heat the material, the useof polyethylene as a material for the tubing was eliminated. Thenecessary physical characteristics needed for tubing include: a reducedcoefficient of friction; an increase in thermal conductivity; and theability to conduct heat to the material. It was determined that thedispensing time could be extended from 5 to 12 minutes by just changingthe tubing material from polyethylene to fluorinated thermoplastics. Byheating the fluorinated thermoplastic dispensing ports 121 a and 121 bwithin the heated support housing 132 to an elevated temperature rangeof 150° F. to about 350° F., a significant improvement was obtainedtowards prolonging the dispensing time before the onset of drooling.This use of fluorinated thermoplastic material in conjunction with theapplication of heat prolonged the dispensing time to about 1-2 hours.The choice of material is crucial in improving dispensing properties,and although fluorinated thermoplastics are preferred, such materials asseamless aluminum, copper, titanium, nickel, brass and silica-coatedstainless steel are all improvements over the prior art.

The dispensing time is further prolonged by the use of heater adaptors143 a and 143 b as part of the support housing 132 to further controlthe viscosity. Each adaptor 143 a, 143 b, consist of two hemisphericalportions 144 a and 144 b which form a split sleeve which is mated overthe outside diameter of one of the dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b asbest shown in FIGS. 7 and 12. The adaptors 143 a and 143 b are held inplace by heater bands 145 a and 145 b and each adaptor is retained by apair of screws 146 to facilitate the ease of handling. The outsidediameter of each adaptor 143 a, 143 b is machined to the inside diameterof each heater band 145 a, 145 b. Each inside diameter of an adaptor isof a size to accommodate the outside diameter of one of the dispensingports 121 a, 121 b. The outside diameter at one end of each adaptor 143a or 143 b is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the heaterband 145. This diameter extends partially down the adaptor 143 a, 143 bto provide a ridge 151 that prevents an assembled adaptor 143 a, 143 b,from sliding completely through a heater band 145 a, 145 b. The outsidediameter of the two hemispherical portions 144 a and 144 b, form asubstantially circular cross section when mated over the outsidediameter of one of the dispensing ports 121 a, 121 b, subsequentlydefining a circular split 147 which is typically symmetrical about thecenter line of the adaptor 143 a or 143 b. This allows for positivecompression on the outside diameter of the dispensing port 121 a, 121 b,which is provided by the clamping action by one of the heater bands 144a, 144 b. The adaptors 143 a, 143 b as described herein are best usedfor either metal dispensing ports.

When the capillary orifice 148 accommodates the dispensing tube 121 abeing made out of metal, one end (threaded portion 149) of thedispensing tube is machined to accept a tapped thread in the dispensingtube 121 a. For the present application the opening at the distal end ofthe dispensing tube 121 a is machined to accept a 10-32 UNF thread,which would therein match the outside diameter of the capillary orifice148. The machined hole falls short of penetrating completely through theouter size to control the capillary length, L. The metal dispensing tubeis threaded with a 10-32 UNF. The capillary orifice 148 is threaded onto the metal dispensing tube until it stops to complete the assembly.When the nozzles become fouled, they can easily be unscrewed andreplaced with a new nozzle.

FIGS. 11-12 show a capillary orifice 148 typically consisting of a metalbody having a threaded portion 149 on one end to attach to the distalend of dispensing ports 121 a, 121 b, and a machined capillary portion150 at the other end which is designed to penetrate into the pressuredrop area. The diameter of the capillary portion 150 can be sized asdesired but is typically smaller than the dispensing port 121 a, or 121b. However, it must be sized to provide free flowing of material and thestated benefits without creating excessive back pressure that can causemixer seal failure. The capillary orifice 148 helps minimize materialbuild-up, resulting drool, and improves cut-off of the material after ithas been deposited in the mold casing.

While the dispensing ports 121 a, 121 b, may be made from metal asdescribed above, the dispensing ports 121 a, 121 b are preferably madeof a fluorinated thermoplastic having a continuous use temperature ofabout 450° F. to 500° F. At these temperatures fluorinated thermoplasticmay soften slightly but will not melt. By adding heat to the tip of thedispensing ports 121 a, 121 b, urea and urethane drooling issignificantly reduced or eliminated for greater than 2 hours ofproduction time. Typically the dispensing ports 121 a, 121 b, are smallin diameter; typically about 0.187 inch.

FIGS. 13 and 14 describe an embodiment that utilizes a split adaptor 155that comprises a base portion 156 and a clamping portion 157. Thecapillary section 159 is defined into a bottom section of the baseportion 156. Semi-circular recesses 158 are defined each portion 156 and157, and when the two portions are combined, they form a groove 158 forhousing the distal end of a fluorinated thermoplastic dispensing port121 a. It is to be appreciated that the groove 158 and dispensing ports121 a and 121 b may take other shapes than the circular shown herein,and still be effective.

The use of a capillary orifice helps to reduce the area wherein curedmaterial stagnates to produce a drool initiation site. It also increasesthe pressure at the orifice to help push out any cured material andmakes the decompression more effective by limiting the amount ofmaterial to be “sucked back” into the pressure reduction area. Inaddition to reducing die swell due to a small diameter of extrudate,capillary orifices also increase the shear rate at the dispensing portorifice, which reduces the viscosity of polyurethane and polyurea. Inaddition, the use of capillary orifices provide better control of theviscosity and improve cut-off.

The combination of using support housing heaters 142 a and 142 b, heateradaptors 143 a, 143 b, capillary orifices 148, and fluorinatedthermoplastic material for forming the dispensing ports 121 a and 121 b,can prolong the dispensing time before the onset of drool of thedispensing ports 121 a, 121 b from about 5 minutes to about 5 hours.

While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed fulfill the objective stated above, it will beappreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may bedevised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understoodthat the appended claims are intended to cover all such modificationsand embodiments which come within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

1. An apparatus for mixing and dispensing of components for applying toa golf ball sub-assembly, the apparatus comprising: means for receivingat least two components; means for pumping the components; means formixing the components; means for controlling heat generated by anexothermic reaction created by the components mixing; a nozzle frameworkcoupled to the heat controlling means and including a heated supporthousing; the heated support housing having means for heating thecomponents passing through the dispensing port to a temperature of about150° F. to 350° F.; and at least one dispensing port disposed at an endof the heated support housing for depositing the components into a golfball mold casing.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecomponents comprise polyureas and blends thereof.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the components comprise urethanes andblends thereof.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzleframework comprises at least two dispensing ports.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the heating means of the components in the supporthousing comprises at least one heater adaptor for each dispensing port.6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each heater adaptor includes aheater band for applying positive clamping pressure upon the heateradaptor.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling meansincludes quick change connections that do not require tools.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one dispensing port is formedfrom fluorinated thermoplastic material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the at least one dispensing port is made from a metal materialselected from the group of metals consisting of seamless aluminum,copper, titanium, nickel, brass or silica-coated stainless steel. 10.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating means of the components inthe support housing comprises at least one support housing heater inclose proximity to each dispensing port.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein a distal end of the dispensing port includes a capillary orificesized to create a flow balance.
 12. An apparatus for mixing anddispensing of components for applying to a golf ball sub-assembly, theapparatus comprising: a mixing block for receiving at least twocomponents; means for pumping the components through the mixing block; amixer body having a middle portion defining a bore extending axiallyalong its longitudinal axis, means for mixing the components; atemperature control chamber encompassing the mixer body for controllingheat generated by an exothermic reaction created by the componentscombining and mixing; a nozzle framework having means for coupling tothe temperature control chamber and including a heated support housing;at least one dispensing port disposed in the heated support housing fordispensing the components into a golf ball mold; the support housinghaving means for heating the components to about 150° F. to about 350°F. as the components pass through the at least one dispensing port; theheating means including one support housing heater in close proximity toeach dispensing port, and a heater adaptor at a distal end of eachdispensing port; and a capillary orifice at a distal end of eachdispensing port for the purpose of prolonging the onset of drool for atleast four hours.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thecomponents comprise polyureas and blends thereof.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein the components comprise urethanes andblends thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each dispensingtube is made from a fluorinated thermoplastic material.
 16. An apparatusfor dispensing of components for applying to a golf ball sub-assembly,the apparatus comprising: means for mixing and pumping the components,and a nozzle framework coupled to the means for mixing and pumping; thenozzle framework having a heated support housing comprising: at leastone dispensing port for dispensing the components into a golf ball mold,and means for heating the components passing through the dispensingports from about 150° F. to 350° F., wherein the time before the onsetof drool at the dispensing port is at least four hours.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for mixing and pumping thecomponents comprises controlling the exothermic reaction temperaturecaused by mixing of reactive polyureas and blends thereof.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for mixing and pumping thecomponents comprises controlling the exothermic reaction temperaturecaused by mixing of reactive urethanes and blends thereof.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one dispensing portcomprises two dispensing ports.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, whereinthe dispensing ports are made from fluorinated thermoplastic material.21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for heating thecomponents comprises at least one support housing heater in closeproximity to each dispensing port.
 22. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the means for heating of the components comprises at least asplit adaptor for each dispensing port.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22,wherein the split adaptor comprises: a base portion and a clampingportion; a capillary section defined in a bottom section of the baseportion; semi-circular recesses in each of the base and clampingportions for forming a groove when the portions are mated; and a distalend of each dispensing port disposed within a groove.
 24. The apparatusof claim 23, wherein the each split adaptor includes a heater band forapplying positive clamping pressure upon the heater adaptor.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for heating of the componentscomprises at least one support housing heater in close proximity to eachdispensing port and a heater adaptor for each dispensing port.